Banjo, drum, or similar musical instrument.



G. HABERMANN.

BANJO, DRUM, OR SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.4, 1912.

1,080,440, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HABERMANN, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO OSCAR SCHMIDT,

0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

BANJO, DRUM, 0R slMlLAR MUsICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLEs IIABERMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Banjos, Drums, or Similar Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in banjos, drums or similar musical instrument-s, whereby a sharp, clear and melodious tone is produced when the instrument is played, and the construction of the means for drawing and holding the tightening ring in place is simplified and a finer appearance is given to the instrument.

For the purpose mentioned use is made of a rim provided with spaced apertures for the passage of bolts employed for drawing the tightening ring in position, the nuts of the bolts abutting against the rim. Use is also made of a resonant ring over which the drum head or membrane is stretched, the resonant ring being provided with depending pins resting on the top of the rim so as to hold the resonant ring spaced from the rim.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the body of a banjo, provided with the improvement; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of a portion of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the body, parts being in section.

The body of a banjo, drum or similar musical instrument, consists essentially of a wooden rim A provided at its upper end with an annular flange A, on the top of which rest supporting pins B depending from the under side of a resonant ring C over which the drum head or membrane D is stretched. The membrane D is provided at its margin with the usual retaining ring E, and the marginal end of the drum head or membrane D is engaged by a tightening ring F to properly stretch the drum head or membrane over the resonant ring C and to hold the said drum head or membrane D in the stretched position. Bolts G screw Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 4, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2,1913.

Serial No. 723,862.

with their upper ends into the under side of the tightening ring F and the said bolts G extend through vertical apertures A formed in the outer portion of the rim A. The lower ends of the apertures A are countersunk as at A for the reception of nuts G screwing on the lower ends of the bolts Gr.

By the arrangement described, the nuts Gr can be readily screwed up by the use of a wrench inserted in the corresponding countersunk portion A and engaging the nut G, so that the tightening ring F is drawn downward to properly stretch the drum head or membrane D over the resonant ring C and to hold it in stretched position.

It will be noticed that by the arrangement described the bolts G are practically concealed within the rim A and form no undesirable obstructions on the peripheral face of the rim A, that is, the peripheral face of the rim A is wholly unobstructed. The pins B preferably alternate with the bolts G, as plainly indicated in Fig. 3, so that when a bolt G is tightened pressure is exerted on the ring C between adjacent pins B to insure proper uniform contact of the pins B with the rim flange A. It will further be noticed that the resonant ring C is supported directly above the rim A by the pins B resting on the top of the flange A, so that an exceedingly sharp, clear and very melodious tone is obtained when the instrument is played. It will further be noticed that by the arrangement described that the construction of the head of a banjo, drum or similar musical instrument, is greatly simplified, and the several parts can be readily assembled and adjusted with a view to prop erly stretch the drum head or membrane D over the resonant ring 0. By leaving the rim A wholly unobstructed by the unsightly bolts now generally employed, the appearance of the instrument is greatly improved.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A banjo, drum or similar musical instrument, provided with a rim having an annular flange at the inner portion of the upper end thereof, the outer or body portion of the rim having spaced apertures extending from the top to the bottom of the shell and countersunk at the bottom of the rim,

a head, a resonant ring over Which the head the nuts of the bolts being Within the counis stretched, the said ring being provided tersunk portions of the apertures and abut- With spaced depending pins resting on the ting against the rim.

top of said annular flange of the rim to hold In testimony whereof I have signed my the resonant ring directly above and spaced name to this specification in the presence of 15 from the said flange, a tightening ring above two subscribing Witnesses. the top of the body portion of the rim, and CHARLES HABERMANN. bolts screwing with their upper ends into lVitnesses:

the under side of the said tightening ring \VALTER SCHMIDT,

10 and extending through the said apertures, CnAs. R. HARTMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

